For the second season running QPR fans face a midweek trip to Cardiff City on Wednesday. Here are the usual travel tips for fans planning on making the journey to support the boys.
Ground Name: Ninian Park
Capacity: 20 000
Address: Sloper Road, Cardiff, CF11 8SX
Main Telephone No: 02920 221 001
Fax No: 02920 341 148
Ticket Office: 0845 345 1400
By Car:
Leave the M4 at junction 33 and take the A4232 towards Cardiff/Barry. Leave the dual carriageway at the B4267 exit, signposted Cardiff Leckwith Athletics Stadium. Ninian Park appears on the right.
Map:
Click link to visit Multi Map site and zoom in/out or tour round
Parking:
Well last time we came here there was loads of parking around the ground, both at the athletics stadium opposite and on the grass verges of the surrounding roads. However we've been told by a helpful Cardiff fan that the construction of Cardiff's new ground has restricted the former and the local police have started preventing the latter and therefore the industrial estate near the ground is your best bet.
By Train
No return train available for this one unless you're willing to spend four hours at Bristol Parkway and get back to London at 0630. Return tickets are available for £61 if you do fancy that.
Paddington - 1545
Cardiff - 1748
Cardiff - 2300
Bristol Temple Meads - arrive 0004, leave 0447
Paddington - 0630
The more sensible option is to return the day after and stay over night and there are some £56.50 tickets available if you come back at 0955 or 1055.
In my opinion Cardiff Central to the ground is walkable - it's just over a mile, maybe slightly more, but it didn't take us more than twenty minutes last season. There is a station closer, Ninian Park Halt - take a hard hat if you choose to use this.
Pubs:
The guide recommends the Lansdowne and The Cornwall Hotel round the ground but I've never had the pleasure myself so I wouldn't be comfortable recommending them personally in a place where it can get a bit tasty when QPR visit.
There's a massive Weatherspoons set in an old theatre by the station called the Prince of Wales. That's not too bad and there's plenty of room. Most of the pubs round the station in the centre of town seem ok.
Our resident Cardiff expert Dai Hoops says:
”Would not recommend The Cornwall, but the Landsdowne is ok for away fans who behave.”
Tickets:
For reasons known only to themselves Cardiff have made this game all ticket. The away end is split in half with seats bolted onto an old terrace down at the front offering a poor view and the remainder of the terrace kept up at the back offering a marginally better perspective. Tickets in the seats are priced £24 for adults and £15 for concessions, on the terrace it is £22 and £15. It’s only a pound less on that manky terrace which seems a bit steep, concessions aren’t any cheaper at all which again doesn’t seem to make any sense. Well done Cardiff City on all fronts really! Disabled tickets are priced £18 per pair but the disabled parking is already sold out. Tickets for the original fixture are valid. Seven loyalty points on offer.
Links:
Detailed fans' guide to Ninian Park